Status of large mammals in the Taxkorgan Reserve, Xinjiang, China

Abstract

A status survey of large mammals was conducted in the western half of China's 14 000 km 2 Taxkorgan Reserve. About 7750 people and 70 000 domestic animals inhabit the reserve. Only one viable population of fewer than 150 Marco Polo sheep survives, and it appears to be augmented by adult males from Russia and Afghanistan during the winter rut. Ibex occur primarily in the western part of the reserve and blue sheep—the most abundant wild ungulate—in the eastern and southeastern parts. The two species overlap in the area of contact. Counts in selected mountain blocks totalling 1445 km 2 within the reserve revealed an average wild ungulate density of 0·34 animals km −2. Snow leopard were rare, with possibly 50–75 in the reserve, as were wolves and brown bear. The principal spring food of snow leopard was blue sheep (60%) and marmot (29%). Local people have greatly decimated wildlife, killing wild ungulates for meat and predators to protect livestock. Overgrazing by livestock and overuse of shrubs for fuelwood is turning this arid steppe habitat into desert. There is need to place restraints on the killing of wildlife, to introduce appropriate technology such as solar cookers, and to encourage occupations that remove people from the land—trade, manufacture of handicrafts, and activities associated with tourism.